Pleater-and-hanger device for drapes or the like



March 19, 1963 M. L. LYDARD PLEATER-AND-HANGER DEVICE FOR DRAPES OR THELIKE Filed July 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Martin I.. L yd ard YKQRL (UH 10ers ATTORNEY March 19, 1963 M. L. LYDARD PLEATER-AND-HANGERDEVICE FOR DRAPES OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1961 KARL(1). :FLOCKS ATTORNEY ilnited States Fatent @iifice $381,819 PatentedMar. 19, 1963 3,081,819 PLEATER-AND-HANGER DEVICE FOR DRAPES OR THE LIKEMartin L. Lydard, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Eastern ProductsCorporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed July 25,196i, Ser. No. 126,555 Claims. (Cl. 160-648) This invention relatesgenerally to curtain hanging devices, and more particularly to acombined pleater-andhanger device for use in forming pleats in dnapes,curtains, wall hangings, etc., and for suspending the same from ahorizontally disposed support.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a noveldrapery shaper and hanger which is readily and economicallymanufactured, easily installed, and highly satisfactory and practicalfor the purpose intended.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drapery hangerwhich cooperates with conventional hanging structure of drapes or thelike, and which automatically and uniformly forms a pleating formationwhen installed on the drape.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelpleater-and-hanger device of the character involved which forms uniformpleats with a minimum exercise of skill or aptitude on the part of theindividual installing the drapes.

And yet a still further object of the present invention is to provide adevice of the character involved which permits the drapery, curtains,etc. to be moved, rearranged or transferred without disturbing thepleats formed by the device.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a draperypleater-and-hanger which is substantially concealed when installed andwhich will 'be disposed in an optimum position for satisfactorilysupporting the drapes, curtains, etc.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing a drape installation utilizing the novelpleater-and-hanger device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of a portion of thedrape installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the plane of line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the novelplea-ter-and-hang-er device used in the drapery installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper portion of thedrape installation of FIG. 1, illustrating the configuration of thepleats formed utilizing the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating thetype of pleats formed utilizing another embodiment of thepleater-and-hanger device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pleater-and-hanger device utilizedto form the pleat formation shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG; 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the upper configuration ofthe pleats formed utilizing the device of FIG. 7.

Referring to drawings, in FIG. 1, a Window W has disposed adjacent theside portions thereof vertical,

. pleated drapes 10 and 12 which have a horizontal cornice portion 14extending therebetween. The drapes 10 and 12 and cornice portion 14 aresuspended from a horizontally disposed support bar 16 which is suitablysecured to the wall 18. The particular drape installation is merely forpurposes of illustration, and it will be readily apparent that the novelpleater-and-hanger device of the invention can be utilized with drawcurtains, and in many other installations.

As seen in FIG. 2, the drapes and cornice portion will have securedthereto, as is conventional, a pleater tape 20 which includes aplurality of open-ended sleeves, tunnels or tubes 22 longitudinallyspaced thereacross. The tubes or sleeves 22 are spaced from each other apredetermined distance, as is conventional in the art, to accommodatethe drapery hanging devices.

Considering FIGS. 5 and 8, each of the embodiments will form tubularpleats 24 terminating at their longitudinal edges in coplanar panelportions 26, as seen in FIG. 5, or tubular pleat portions 24 terminatingat their longitudinal edges in coplanar panel portions 26, as seen inFIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the novel pleater-andhanger device comprisesa body portion indicated generally at 36, which includes a hook 32having a lower vertical stem 34 continuing in an inwardly directedportion 36, an outwardly directed portion 38, and a reversebend ordownwardly directed portion 40 terminating in an inwardly directed endportion 42. Secured to and extending transversely of the stem portion34- is the bight or base portion 44 of a substantially U-shaped element,which includes outwardly directed side portions 46 and 48 which continuein upwardly directed prongs 5t) and 52 which are mutually parallel andcoplanar with respect to each other. The prongs 5t} and 52 are of auniform cross section and will accommodate thereon a substantiallycylindrical pleat forming sleeve indicated generally at 54.

Secured above the portion 44 of the element forming the prongs 59 and 52is a U-shaped element 55 including vertically extending mutuallyparallel prongs 56 and 58 which will be received in the pleat tapetunnels or sleeves 22 on the drape, cornice, or the like. The prong 56and 58 have formed at the upper end thereof enlarged knobs 60 and 61,respectively, which facilitate the insertion of the prongs 56 and 58into the pleater tape tunnels or tubes 22.

The cylindrical sleeve 54 will be constructed from any suitable sheetmetal, plastic, or the like, and includes inwardly formed tubularsleeves 64 and 66 along the spaced rear parallel edges thereof whichwill be accommodated on the prongs 5t) and 52 of the element 30. Thesleeves 62 and 64 terminate at their lower edges 66 and 68,respectively, above the bottom edge 70 of the sleeve 54. The shorteningof the sleeves 62 and 64 will dispose the hook 32 of the element 30substantially centrally of the cylindrical sleeve 54, to thus affordproper hanging of the drapes, cornice, etc.

It will be noted that the portions 36 and 38 of the element 30 extendinwardly between the prongs 56 and 58 whereby, when the hook is disposedon a support bar 16 or the like, the sleeve 54 will be disposed adjacentto the support bar to aid in disposing the pleats 24 in a desiredvertical position.

It will be noted in FIG. 3 that the tubular tunnels or sleeves 22 of thepleater tape 20 are received in the prongs 56 and 58, the upper roundedends 60 and 62 being illustrated therein, and an intermediate sleeve 22not used is disposed vertically of the outer surface of the cylindricalpleat forming sleeve 54 opposite the hook element 3%.

Considering FIGS. 6-8, FIG. 8 illustrates the type of pleats formedutilizing the combined pleater-and-hanger device shown in FIG. 7.

The device shown in FIG. 7 includes a body portion including a circularbase ring element 131 having secured thereto, in any suitable manner, ahook forming element 132 including a vertical lower stem 134 continuingin an inwardly directed portion 136, an outwardly directed portion 138,a reverse-bend, downwardly projecting hook portion 144) and an inwardlydirected terminal portion 142.

Secured to the ring 131 at opposite sides of the hook element 132 areU-shaped prong forming elements 143 and 145 which form verticallyextending prongs 156, and 158, 152, respectively. Prongs 156 and 153 aredisposed in coplanar relation on opposite sides of the portions I36 and138 of the hook forming element 132, this being similar to theconstruction shown in FIG. 4. The prong elements 150 and 152 are incoplanar rela tionship with respect to each other and are spacedoutwardly from the prongs 156, 158, respectively. Secured to the ringelement 131 in coplanar opposed relationship to the hook element 132 isa fifth prong 155. The prongs 150, 152, 155, 156, and 158 are disposedin a pentagonal relationship, it being noted that the coplanar relatedhook element 132 and prong 155 are disposed in a plane normal to theplane in which the respective coplanar prongs 156, 158 and 154), 152 aredisposed. Further, the planes in which the respective prongs 156, 158and 150, 152 are disposed are substantially parallel to each other.

The prongs 156 and 158 have formed on their upper ends enlargements 16dand 162, respectively, to accomplish the function mentioned with respectto the prongs 56 and 58 of the embodiment of FIG. 4. Additionally, theprongs 150 and 152 have formed at the upper ends thereof similarenlargements 163 and 16 1, respectively, inasmuch as these prongs willbe accommodated in the tubular sleeves 22 of the pleater tape of a drapeas well as the prong 155 which has an enlargement 165 on the upper end.

As clearly seen in FIG. 6, the pleats 24' are formed when the respectivepleater tape tunnels 22 are received on the prongs 150 through 158, theenlargements being identified in FIG. 6.

The manner in which the combined pleater-and-hanger device is used isbelieved tobe clearly evident to those skilled in the art, and thus itwould appear that further description and explanation is unnecessary.However, from the foregoing description it is seen that the presentinvention provides an improved drapery shaping and suspending devicewhich is simple and practical in construction and which can beeconomically manufactured and readily applied in a simple and convenientmanner by a relatively unskilled individual. The drapery is effectivelyshaped to have attractive pleats and is securely retained in assembledrelation even if subjected to relatively rough handling which may occurduring normal usage, such as changing the drapes, cleaning the drapes,etc.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention, andtherefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawingsand described in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pleater-and-hanger device for use with a drape including aplurality of integral vertically extending, horizontally spaced paralleltunnels open at the lower end, said pleater-and-hanger device comprisinga drape-hanging hook integral with a base portion, a first pair ofmutually parallel prongs extending from said base at opposite sides ofsaid drape-hanging hook, at least a second pair of mutually parallelprongs extending vertically from said base in spaced relation laterallyfrom said finst pair of prongs and said drape-hanging hook and parallelthereto, said two pairs of prongs being disposed in mutually parallelrectangular relation to each other, and :a separate, substantially rigidpleat forming shield element including spaced parallel edge portions,said edge portions including socket means removably received on saidsecond pair of prongs for receipts between certain spaced paralleltunnels of said drape.

2. The structure of claim 1; said first pair of prongs including bluntedupper terminal end portions for facilitating entry of said prongs in thedrape tunnels.

3. The structure of claim 1; said shield including a fragmentarycircular cross section.

4. The structure of claim 1; said socket means comprising tubularsleeves along the length of said shield edges.

5. The structure of claim 4; said tubular sleeves terminatingintermediately. of said shield, said drape hook including a reverse-bendend intermediately of said prongs, said upper end of said reverse-bendend terminating substantially equidistantly 'of said shield disposed onsaid second pair of prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,819,240 Harrison Aug. 18, 1931 2,544,516 Walters Mar. 6, 19512,898,990 Murgolo Aug. 11, 1959 2,979,128 Mufgolo Apr. 11, 196 1

1. A PLEATER-AND-HANGER DEVICE FOR USE WITH A DRAPE INCLUDING APLURALITY OF INTEGRAL VERTICALLY EXTENDING, HORIZONTALLY SPACED PARALLELTUNNELS OPEN AT THE LOWER END, SAID PLEATER-AND-HANGER DEVICE COMPRISINGA DRAPE-HANGING HOOK INTEGRAL WITH A BASE PORTION, A FIRST PAIR OFMUTUALLY PARALLEL PRONGS EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OFSAID DRAPE-HANGING HOOK, AT LEAST A SECOND PAIR OF MUTUALLY PARALLELPRONGS EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM SAID BASE IN SPACED RELATION LATERALLYFROM SAID FIRST PAIR OF PRONGS AND SAID DRAPE-HANGING HOOK AND PARALLELTHERETO, SAID TWO PAIRS OF PRONGS BEING DISPOSED IN MUTUALLY PARALLELRECTANGULAR RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND A SEPARATE, SUBSTANTIALLY RIGIDPLEAT FORMING SHIELD ELEMENT INCLUDING SPACED PARALLEL EDGE PORTIONS,SAID EDGE PORTIONS INCLUDING SOCKET MEANS REMOVABLY RECEIVED ON SAIDSECOND PAIR OF PRONGS FOR RECEIPTS BETWEEN CERTAIN SPACED PARALLELTUNNELS OF SAID DRAPE.